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Fraud : Peter Quinn

Peter Quinn is a former pupil of St. Edward’s College, Liverpool and is now the Chairman of Governors at the School. He is also a member of the governing body at St. Benedict’s College, Liverpool. Peter is a graduate of Liverpool University and after obtaining his law degree he served his articles with the well respected Merseyside firm Bell Lamb & Joynson. Upon admission he joined the Liverpool practice of E. Rex Makin & Co., one of the best known firms in the North West of England. He was with the practice for 4 years before joining David Phillips & Partners in 1985 where he remained for 10 years.

From 1986 to 1995 Peter headed the Liverpool office and in August, 1995 together with Paul Barrow and Nick Melville, set up Quinn Melville. Since then they have been operating from offices based in Liverpool City Centre. Very recently they transferred all the non criminal work into their new firm Quinn Barrow. Quinn Melville is now an exclusive specialist criminal defence practice.

From 1985 Peter began to specialise more and more in large scale white collar fraud work. Over the last 20 years Peter has acted for clients who have been involved in cases across the country involving prosecuting authorities such as the Serious Fraud Office, the CPS Specialist Fraud Division, the DTI, Customs & Excise and the Inland Revenue.

His work has included successfully defending the former Liverpool City Council Chief Architect who was charged in a very large corruption case. In 1990 Peter acted in the largest financial investigation which Merseyside Police has ever conducted. They arrested and charged 7 defendants in respect of land deals throughout the North West of England. The case lasted for 3½ years and all 4 of Peter’s clients were acquitted.

Since then Peter has acted in many cases nationally where his clients have been successfully defended. Together with his Partner, Paul Barrow, he also represented the interests in this country of Louise Woodward; a case which generated worldwide publicity.

Peter continues to advise clients who are in dispute with the Inland Revenue and Customs & Excise. He successfully defended a solicitor who was charged by the Serious Fraud Office in an extremely complex prosecution which proceeded to a well publicised lengthy trial in London in 2001-2002. He is advising clients who are being prosecuted at present by Customs & Excise, the Inland Revenue and various fraud squads across the country including the City of London Police, the Metropolitan Police, Merseyside Police, Greater Manchester Police as well as the Serious Fraud Office. Many of these cases involve money laundering allegations which the authorities are pursuing with considerable vigour at present.

Peter recently successfully defended a high profile Liverpool businessman charged with blackmailing Paul Stretford, Wayne Rooney’s agent. The firm has also acted for 2 very well known international footballers involved in issues with the Police in the recent past.

Peter also represented the 2 English defendants in the Morecambe Bay Cockle Pickers trial at Preston Crown Court. Both defendents were acquitted by unanimous verdict of the jury.

Peter heads the specialised fraud division within Quinn Melville. Both he and his Partner, Nick Melville, are supervisors on the Serious Fraud Panel. The firm is a founder member of the Criminal Defence Service Serious Fraud Panel. Peter is also a member of the Legal Services Commission Funding Review Committee and also the Serious Fraud Panel Appeals Committee.

Quinn Melville has 4 consultant solicitors who specialise in fraud work together with all the necessary support staff. Quinn Melville staff are on call 24 hours a day 365 days a year.

Peter is also assisted in his bigger cases by William Sergeant who holds a law degree and is a former Police Officer who was awarded the Queen's Police Medal. When he retired Bill was a Chief Superintendent and Head of the Merseyside Police Special Branch. Quinn Melville has built up a team of specialist investigators. The firm is well capable of representing the interests of any defendant no matter how complex the allegations.

We are a specialist criminal defence practice and we are proud of it. We are proud of our achievements over the last 10 years and our aim is to successfully represent the interests of all of our clients whatever problems they may have for the next ten years and thereafter.